This place broke me. Literally ruined me on cinnamon rolls anywhere else. You may be able to eat one and not feel the same, but my outlook on the cinnamon rolls I've been eating up until now in my life is extremely dim. I've never had one so amazingly light, soft and perfectly just-sweet-enough. Wonder if they will ship them...? We stopped by Leaven for breakfast one morning on our trip getting a savory crêpe each and a couple pastries. Didn't even make it though breakfast before we knew we had to do a repeat the very next day because it was so good. Crepes are French style and are clearly made with skill and talent. The space is bright and cheery with very friendly staff. I see other reviews mentioning waits during busy times or complaints but experienced nothing of the sort. We were a bit off peak and didn't have that issue but I can honestly say I'd be HAPPY to wait for the food at Leaven. This is really something special and whoever is behind it has a gift. read more

Leaven - Yummy flakey buttery cinnamon pastry. Not the roll I was raving about. (Photo is not at the business, to go order). - Cafes Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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I'm excited to have found such a gem on Friday Harbor! My boyfriend and I were on the island for our anniversary and to took photos for that. Our photographer suggested Leaven as a place we could take photos at since we love going to cafes together. We ordered a Cauliflower Crepe, Cauliflower Danish, and Matcha Latte. The crepe was delicious! I love have a savory crepe once in a while, and this crepe had the perfect amount of creaminess from the cheese, crunchiness from the cauliflower and onions, and freshness from the arugula. The same could be said about the danish. They had great components of a creperie/cafe. The Matcha Latte though, was not up to par. It seems it wasn't whisked well, so it tasted grainy. Overall, not taking a point off for it because what they specialize in was so great! Besides the food, the space was pretty lively. During our photoshoot, there was live music and every table was taken up. Leaven seems like a great space for a hangout or catch up with someone. Honestly, If I lived in the area, I would always be down for their crepes. read more

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Very disappointing experience overall. The café itself is very cute and has a lot of potential, but there were several things that made the visit less enjoyable. The layout of the café is extremely cramped. The placement of the tables and chairs makes it difficult for both customers and staff to move around, and during my visit I actually watched someone using a wheelchair struggle to navigate through the space. There was also a musician performing in one corner. I appreciate live music and think it can create a great atmosphere, but combined with the crowded layout, it made the café feel very loud and overstimulating. Conversations echoed throughout the room, making it difficult to relax. The service was also frustrating. Despite the line being out the door, the cashier moved at a very slow pace. When it was finally my turn to order, my interaction was interrupted so the cashier could turn away and assist a coworker before finishing with me. Having worked in customer service myself, I understand coworkers sometimes need help, but it's generally better to finish assisting the current customer first or simply say, "I'll be right with you," before stepping away. Another concern was the pastries displayed directly in front of the register. They were uncovered while customers stood nearby, with hands, clothing, bags, and other personal items passing very close to them. Considering these pastries are being sold, this didn't seem like the most sanitary way to display food. I was also disappointed to learn they don't offer decaf espresso. As someone who is pregnant and takes medication, I still enjoy treating myself to coffee but choose decaf. I've never visited a café that didn't offer it as an option. Decaf is also important for many customers with heart conditions, pregnancy, caffeine sensitivities, or certain medications, so it seems like an option worth considering. Especially if they have vegan, dairy free, and fresh ingredient options. Why not add decaf to the list? For the prices being charged, the quality of the pastries, and the aesthetic the café is aiming for, I expected a higher standard when it came to customer service, cleanliness, and the overall customer experience. I genuinely hope some of these issues are addressed because the café has a lot of charm and could be a wonderful place with a few improvements. Don't get me wrong though! The pastries I got were AMAZING! But my partner and I both said this wasn't a great experience .. read more

This is a very welcome addition to Friday Harbor. Possibly the best of breakfast in town. The crêpes are terrific and so are all of the baked goods. You can tell that the bakers put a lot of love into everything they do. The strawberry crêpe is our favorite. But the eggs Benedict crêpe is a close second. read more

Absolutely amazing!! The best danishes I have ever had. We tried a sweet and a savory one and both were fantastic. The crepes are great too, but the cinnamon sugar one was very very heavy on the sugar. Very cute interior and nice staff. read more

Leaven - Raspberry and burrata danishes - Cafes Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

Wow. Where do I start? Everything was perfect! Everyone was so friendly. The variety of pastries was plentiful. We enjoyed oat milk lattes, prosciutto cheese and caramelized onion crepe, citrus crepe, morning bun and kouign-amann. Everything came out warm and was served with a smile. This is now one of our favorite places on the island. read more

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I've eaten a lot of crepes in my time but this restaurant's were by far the best!!! Staff are really nice! A great place for brunch.

Bummer of an experience here for breakfast. The workers were accommodating but that couldn't erase the cold crepes or the partially listed ingredients on the menu board. Let me explain: --we ordered 3 crepes and all three arrived cold. They remade one of the crepes; it arrived warm, which was an improvement. --the coffee was awful, and we had to wait for a staff to bring a carton of half and half, which could not save the bitter coffee. --the raspberry lemonade was good but between the chipped coffee cup and the full ice filling, there was about 4 ounces of lemonade. The atmosphere was ok--certainly clean and bright with local art for sale--but the chairs were uncomfortable, so we were ready to leave within 20 minutes of sitting down. Gentle Reader, I'm sorry to write that two of the crepes I tasted were the worst crepes I've ever had. Maybe they were pancakes with ingredients folded into them? I'm not sure. I can't discern how a freshly made crepe could be so cold when the server walked about 20 steps from the prep area to our table. I truly regret giving a one star review, but we would not consider returning because the crepes were so blah. The pastries in the case looked good, but we were there for the crepes. Note: I raised my initial review by a star because the owner reached out immediately and communicated like a pro. I'll try this restaurant again in the fall when we're back in town and update my review based on that experience. read more

Second visit we've paid to Leaven in the last 30 days. We love it. Taste is amazing always, we've tried multiple things in the menu and even when the restaurant is packed, service is great, timely and on point. The crepes always made fresh both savory and sweet. If you want to try something amazing, try the local braised lamb gyro (crepe) or a classic like chocolate hazelnut. We've had also the ham and cheese croissant which is crisped to perfection. While it may be busy in the weekends, be patient, it's worth it as all is made from scratch and amazing. read more

Leaven - Hazlenut chocolate crepe with some fresh creme on top. - Cafes Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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This cute little cafe and lovely owner made my day with the most delicious thing I had on my trip to the PNW - a gluten-free lemon curd crepe! I'm devastated that I live on the other side of the country...but maybe that's a good thing. Good luck to the locals who will be popping in here all the time! I wish I could've tried everything, but it just doesn't get any better. The sun tea was really refreshing too. The wait was a little long on a Sunday morning, and they had to send someone literally running to the store to complete my order, but it was sooo worth the wait! I'll be dreaming of this crepe. read more

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Samantha baker proprietor gets up in the predawn and laminates her dough every morning. The flake on the croissant was epic. You can smell the real butter from down the block. Spare white walls and blond wood full of light clean crisp Scandinavian tea shop feel. Many gluten free options - quiches, pasties, tortes, gf crepes. Generous with ingredients. The prosciutto cheese and carnelized onion crepe was piled high! Strong well made coffee drinks. San Juan island raised Korean pork belly so flavorful and crispy with fresh arugula. Mmm mmm mmm. read more

Leaven - Korean pork belly crepe made with island raised pork. - Cafes Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

OMG. Beautiful pastries from heaven. Great service and good prices. Best coffee on the island!

everything here looked so good! We had savory and sweet crepes, as well as a muffin and all 3 were delicious. staff were friendly and the place was cozy :) read more

Leaven - Cafes Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

Beautiful small shop for a quick breakfast. Items are made fresh to order, quick and warm. Prices are amazing. Not a lots of drink option. read more

Leaven - Peach & Cream, Prosciutto + Caramelized onion & Fresh cheese, Coppa + Peach jam & Mozzarella - Cafes Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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YUMMY! The cutes couple have just opened this wonderful establishment on Main Street. The best crepes and pastries ever, with friendly efficient service and a very clean store. read more

Leaven - Lemon curd crepe, morning buns, and bostock. - Cafes Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

Updated review: the owner of the business is very kind. There was a mixup with my drink order which caused an issue with allergies, but they tried to contact me to refund. I appreciate the effort they went through to make things right. The workers are kind, but it gets extremely busy and you may have to wait for a long time on weekends. The crepes were pretty good. The teas were very light, so if you like strong chai or matcha, it's not their specialty. read more

On a recent trip to Friday Harbor, we were so thrilled to discover gluten-free crêpes, but when we found out that you could also get them made vegan and they have other gluten free and vegan offerings as well we were overjoyed because it's not easy to find delicious options for the whole family at one place! It was a bit of a line so I suggest getting there right before opening, but it was absolutely worth the wait - thank you Leaven!! read more

visiting the island & stumbled upon this little bakery & it was one of my favorite things about the place !!! not only was the sweet treats picture perfect, but the were so yummy & the staff was very welcoming & super friendly. seems like its family owned & ran or something which is cool. wish i i lived closer to make it a daily spot the browned butter apple pie cookies were absolutely to die for btw !!! read more

As a frequent customer, I appreciate everything about this café. First of all, the space is light and breezy; the service is great. The honey cake is to die for and the chocolate torte and Island Plum lemonade are delicious. The owner is a gem and excellent at what she does. You won't regret eating here. read more